Page 27 of Deadly Scandals

Ashley

Iwanted to rip that suit off of his body and have my way with him. Damn, he looked fine. Our date hadn’t even begun and I was already out of breath. I would bet my career on the fact that Mitch was a beast in bed. But I couldn’t sleep with him. I wouldn’t. One fuck and I’d be completely addicted.

I inhaled the dozen red roses he had given me. A suit, flowers, cologne—hell, he had even shaved. Mitch was definitely trying to impress me.

Or he had an ulterior motive.

“Thank you for the roses. They’re beautiful. You can come in. I’m going to put these in water.”

Mitch walked into my place like he owned it. But instead of relaxing on the sofa while I cut the ends off the stems of my roses, he cased my home. I decided against stopping him. There would be no point really. Plus, I wanted to observe him.

He walked over to my walls and examined the photos of my family, lingering over the one of me holding my baby sister. But he didn’t ask me any questions. I was sure he was taking mental notes.

But then he saw the picture that I knew would intrigue him. “Your dad was in the Navy?”

“Yup.” He didn’t need the details. I was supposed to be the one investigating him.

“Was he a prick? Is that why you hate all of us?”

I chopped the final stem off at a sharp angle, making sure to snap the scissors loudly. “I don’t hate you. I just don’t buy into the full ‘I’m a Navy SEAL, I’m above the law, I’m God’s gift to women’ image you all project.”

Mitch smirked at me, and I could feel every hair on my body stand at attention. Okay, maybe he had the “God’s gift to women” thing going on, but I was still suspicious of him.

“Okay. The flowers are all done. Ready for dinner? I was hoping to go somewhere quiet, where we could talk.” About the case. I meant about the case.

“It’s a surprise. Let’s go.”

He placed his strong hand on my back and led me out of my own apartment. Five minutes into this date and he was already in control.

I secretly hoped he had brought his motorcycle. The thought of being forced to wrap my arms around his broad back as I clutched onto his thighs with mine caused my heartbeat to race.

Instead, his huge truck was parked down the street from my place. He opened the passenger door for me and hoisted me up into his truck. He climbed in on his side and turned left toward the coast, driving along the beach.

An empty feeling formed in the pit of my stomach. I fought the urge to flee, to make up some excuse on why I had to leave. But this was work, even if I was attracted to this man.

Why was I so nervous? I couldn’t recall anyone making me feel like I was a virgin on a first date.

“Do you surf?”

“What? No. Why?”

“Because you live in Cardiff. Why live here if you don’t surf?”

Good question. “When I was assigned to San Diego, I checked out a bunch of towns. I wanted to live near the beach, even if I don’t go there often. I mean, I try, but I don’t have any time.”

“Seriously, Ashley? You’re NCIS, not a SEAL. You don’t deploy. I’m not questioning your commitment to your work, but you do have days off. Most NCIS crap is low-level Navy drug stuff. I was a master-at-arms before I was a SEAL. I know the drill.”

I knew he had been military police before he’d received his BUD/S contract. I actually had scoured Mitch’s record when I’d been investigating the Joaquín Cruz case. Mitch’s military record was stellar. I had also met his ex-wife during my investigation, and she had been cold to me. Not that I blamed her for that, as I had been deep undercover back then as Autumn. Knowing the Team guys’ penchant for strippers, I hadn’t expected a welcome reception from one of their wives.

“True. I don’t know. I like the town. I like the vibe. I’m a bit of a hermit. I usually spend my time off doing research.” On the kidnapping of my sister.

“Sounds like a blast. Well, I can show you a good time.”

“I don’t doubt it. But Mitch…I agreed to meet you tonight because I wanted to talk about Paul.”

He scowled when I mentioned Paul. Why? What did he know? What wasn’t he telling me?

He didn’t acknowledge my statement. I would bring up Paul again later.